We the Italians July 18, 2016 - 81 | Page 80

th tH # 81 JULY 18 , 2016 form. The student could get written up for inappropriate behavior and would be asked to use the polite form. But, not even the worst students ever dare go so far to use the “tu” form with a teacher. The use of “tu” in this case is socially unacceptable, as it would be inappropriate to use the “tu” when talking to a cashier, your grandfather’s friend, or to the lady in front of you in the line at # 81 juLY 18 , 2016 the movie theater. “Lei” wasn’t always part of the Italian language. If we go all the way back to the Romans, in fact, they used the informal “tu”, or “you” when referring to anyone from Caesar to the slaves. The polite form of “you” didn’t even exist in ancient Rome. So the Italians didn’t get it from the Romans, where did it come from? According to the Accademia della Crusca, the most important institution regarding the Italian language, “lei,” feminine pronoun, started to be used in the 1500s when referring to the Italian lords as “Vostra Signoria” which is, indeed, a feminine noun. From this expression, the use of the female pronoun “lei” consolidated in the 1600s and it became used as a common formal expression to show respect. However, since in this same time period the Spanish settled in Italy, many intellectuals believed that this new pronoun, “lei,” was of a foreign origin. Therefore, many intellectuals of the time did not accept “lei” and tried, unsuccessfully, to get rid of it. But, Italians are stubbornly attached to their use of this particular pronoun. unpopularity in many parts of Italy created a backlash towards “voi,”and as soon as Fascism fell Italians went back to using their beloved “lei.” The “lei” form isn’t just a courteous pleasantry; it is an expected part of life in Italy. Just to drive home the point, if an old woman crashed into your car it would be expected that you might curse at her for wrecking your beautiful new In the late 1930s, Mussolini and the Fa- Fiat 500, but as long as you used the “lei” scist Regime tried again to get rid of the form it would be culturally acceptable to “lei” form, and ordered the entire popu- tell that old lady off. lation to use the alternate version of “lei:” “voi” or “you all.” However, the Regime’s 80 | WE THE ITALIANS WE THE ITALIANS | 81 www.wetheitalians.com www.wetheitalians.com